Innovative Projects Realized

Evaluation of Lens Focusing using Modulation Transfer Function over the entire Sensor Field

Lenses have a variety of attributes that define the performance of the optical system. These include issues such as chromatic aberration, field curvature, distortion, vignetting and radial symmetry. However, one of the most important attributes is the sharpness of focus. The purpose of this project is to research improved focusing methods for Point Grey Research calibrated cameras.

Adaptive remote powering and data communication for ultra-low power AIOT devices

Conscious of AI, IoT, mobile and automotive products’ explosive growth and potential environmental impact, Dolphin Design is committed to accelerating the development of energy-efficient System-on-Chip for its customers. Dolphin Design continuously aims to meet the stringent power consumption targets for Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) devices. The next generation of IoT devices will be wireless due to inconvenience, costs, or in some cases, the inability to wiring them. In addition, many of them might have strict size constraints. Powering and ensuring ultra-long autonomy for devices with no cord for power and limited space for a battery becomes a daunting challenge. Further, in order to make the smart objects paradigm come true (devices with embedded intelligence and high level of autonomy and communication) much research is needed in order to develop self-power managed system with data communication ability which has an ultra-low power consumption, small and simple implementation, and overall optimized performance. In this research proposal, our objective concerns the implementation of an ultra-low power and adaptive wireless power and data transfer system dedicated to AIoT applications.

Evaluation of Treatment Processes for Greenhouse Wastewater Streams

The greenhouse industry constantly strives for innovative solutions to reduce production costs and environmental footprint. Greenhouses commonly generate process water including nutrient feedwater and other non-production wastewater. They also use fertigation, a soil-less drip irrigation method that requires large quantities of water and nutrients. Due to sharp reduction of available phosphorus (P), P recovery from wastewater streams is an economic opportunity. This research will determine optimum treatment conditions for acidic condensate water from cogeneration process and will explore a combination of mineral sorbents and biological materials to intercept and capture P from greenhouse effluents. Washing out cannabis roots is an important process, which uses large amounts of water; yet there are no standards for its disposal. Properly treated wash water can be recycled back; therefore, wash water treatment will also be evaluated using media filtration and advanced oxidation processes such as ozonation, O3/H2O2 and UV.

Advanced Bio-composites for automotive sector

The proposed project seeks to develop biocomposite technology and products for the
auto manufacturing industries. Eight graduate students under the supervision of Dr.
Mohini Sain, will work on manufacturing processes, mechanical characterization and
development of molds for various types of bio-composites which have direct application
in auto-industries and can act as substitute for fossil fuel based composites. The two
partner organizations will be the Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing
(CBBP), Faculty of Forestry, Univ. of Toronto and the Center for Power Train (PERDC)
Ford Motor Co. based at Windsor. Ford Motor Co., Canada, has been interested in
using biocomposites in automotive manufacturing and is therefore interested in
collaboration with the University of Toronto and CBBP for the same. The above project
proposal has been designed in consultation with representatives from Ford and matches
their own priorities in bio-composites.

X-rAID: Computer Aided Diagnosis of X-Ray Images

Radiologists use x-ray images of the human thoracic cavity to diagnose many diseases. One
of the most common diagnoses, an enlarged heart, is detected by measure the cardiothoracic
ratio – the ratio of the heart diameter to that of the thoracic cavity. Radiologists measure the
cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) manually. This process is time-consuming and error-prone. In this
project, we aim to build a computerized system to measure the cardiothoracic ratio
automatically from chest x-rays. To this end, efficient algorithms will be designed to segment
the x-ray image into its constituent organs and to detect important points necessary for
measurements. When complete, such a computer aided diagnosis (CAD) system will help
prevents errors, save time and reduce costs. If successful, the project may be extended to
allow diagnosis of other cardiothoracic diseases.

Conservation of Plant-Pollinator Relationships in the Lower Columbia Region Program

The project proposes to enhance pollination networks and the diversity of interactions among both native plants and their native pollinator taking into account the changing climate and a history of habitat loss and degradation. The main goal is to increase the ecological connections among sites to work toward a more resilient landscape in the Lower Columbia Region in south-central British Columbia. On-the-ground actions will improve habitat for pollinators including at-risk bumble bees and butterflies, specialist bees, and moths through the planting of appropriate pollen, nectar, and host plants, and nesting resources. Two target ecological systems are at the focus of this work: the Monarch Flyway and Riparian Meadow Corridor. Diverse pollination networks have been called the ‘key to ecosystem sustainability’ as direct benefits to plants and pollinators flow up through the food chain, with improved food availability for plant, seed, fruit, and insect-eating animals.

Testing Tile Drain Phosphorous Removal with a Novel Carboxymethylcellulose-iron Hydrogel Filtration Matrix

The objective of this research is to reduce the loss phosphate (P) used as fertilizer into waterways. Accumulation of phosphate in rivers and lakes leads to premature lake aging and high P-content allows growth and proliferation of algae, which degrade quality of drinking water, aquatic habitat, and recreational utilization of waterways.
The environmentally friendly compound carboxymethyl cellulose in combination with iron forms stable gel beads and when placed in water, bind and retain phosphate. This project aims to produce the beads on an industrial scale and field-test this novel P-filtration system at two farm tile drainage systems in the Lower Thames River near Chatham-Kent and Bruce Peninsula, in Southern Ontario.
Partners will benefit from a demonstration system for the low-cost and efficient P-removal. The wide range utilization of the P-binding matrix and the tile drain filtration systems will reduce P-load in waterways thus lowering the incidence of harmful algal blooms.

Marketing & Sales Communication Strategy

The project involves better identifying the value of employee health and wellbeing during and post-COVID, given the new workforce landscape. HEAL is aware that Canadians are struggling more than ever with their mental and physical health, working from home, less social interaction, etc. Thus, they are looking to do a deep dive into the current needs of businesses at this time as it relates to employee health and morale and the impact it will have on productivity and profit.
Based on these insights and findings, the objective is to create an updated marketing and sales communication strategy.

Project Activities
o Identify the value of employee health and wellbeing during and post-COVID.
o What is it costing businesses when their employees are experiencing mental health issues?
o How can we prove that an improved diet, more movement, and mindfulness mitigates these concerns and show the associated cost savings to a company?
o Research and analyze the market and the current needs of businesses during this time, concerning employee health and morale and the impact that it has had and will have on productivity and profit.
o This will include discussions with HR professionals and employees, where possible.

Business Process Co-op Student

In partnership with the University of Victoria and the Mitacs program, The Good Party is excited to be working with a student from the Gustavson School of Business on a four month project to create a new arm of the company focused on Experiential Marketing and Social Media Management. With a focus on the team’s expertise in creative planning and production and the extensive education of the existing planning team, the Co-op student will take the lead on such tasks as business planning, market research, brand identification, and execution of a launch. The student will also have the opportunity to work within the new arm of the company and on such tasks as social media management, client communication, brand planning and storyboarding, proposals for service, and execution of experiential pop-ups and happenings.

Marketing project with medical device company Hyivy Health

Hyivy Health, as a medical device company established in 2019, seeks a marketing guru who can help with the marketing side of the business. This project with a focus on marketing will require the intern to put together a detailed marketing plan for the company, including in-depth marketing research and analysis, website redesign, competitor’s analysis, social media content management and development. Moreover, the intern is also expected to prepare materials for customer survey and marketing campaigns and to help with the pre-sale on Kickstarter. With the marketing efforts of the intern, Hyivy Health can reach to target customers and communicate the products to them more effectively; in addition, Hyivy Health can also increase their presence both online and off-line by sharing the rapid growth and medical breakthroughs of the business to the consumers.

Investigation of supportive policy for Active School Travel: Evidence-based recommendations for policies to promote active transportation for school journeys

Walking and wheeling to/from school represents an important source of physical activity for children. As policy decisions about how we build our neighbourhoods, schools, and transportation systems have changed, we have seen a worrisome decrease in the number of children who use active modes of travel to get to/from school. We have limited research mapping existing policies related to school travel planning across and within school, municipal, and regional districts. We proposed that the intern will review and analyze Ontario policy scan data, conduct a scoping review, and survey and interview key informants to identify best practices for policies and procedures that support and promote the use of active travel modes by Ontario students. These findings will inform the policy agenda of the Ontario Active School Travel Council, and support Ontario Municipalities, School Boards, and Student Transportation Consortia to develop policies that support and promote active school travel.

Hemicelluloses – based Microgel and its applications

Hemicellulose is the second most abundant renewable polysaccharide, and the HMC-based microgels have great potential in the application in various industries of surface coating, oil recovery, printing, and diaper industry. In this project, the HMC obtained from FPInnovations’ novel fractionation process will be used as the raw material to prepare HMC-based microgels. The fundamental properties, including the rheological behavior, water absorption, swelling degree, will be determined. The second aspect is to determine the potential applications of the prepared HMC- based microgel, such as coating, ink/printing, oil recovery, diaper. There is a strong market demand develop natural polymer- based micorgel, not only because of the rising oil prices but also due to structural versatility, biocompatibility, and sustainability of bio-based products. Hemicelluloses (HMC) are renewable resource of biopolymers, and they have been the focus of growing attention in the context of bio-economy and sustainable development.